Glen Burnie Man Charged In Slaying

POLICE BEAT

State police in Annapolis charged a Glen Burnie man with first-degree murder Thursday afternoon in connection with the slaying of a New York man two weeks ago off Shot Town Road in Arnold.

William Isaiah Johnson Jr., 26, was arrested at the state police barracks after police questioned him about the killing. Police said Johnson led them tothe body Dec. 20.

Jerry Tyrone "Petey" Cadogan, 19, a native of Barbados, was found dead in the woods about two miles north of U.S. 50, shot once in the head.

Lt. Scott Witney, commander of the Annapolis barracks, said police also recovered two guns, one of which is believed to be the weapon used in the slaying.

He said police believe robbery was the motive, but said they are investigating the possibility it was drug-related.

"It is still an ongoing investigation," Witney said.

Police say Cadogan was killed Dec. 19 while sitting in a pickup truck owned by Johnson. Johnson had told police he met Cadogan earlier in the day, and was flagged down on Interstate 97 by another man while driving to Annapolis.

He told police Cadogan and the man started arguing, and he ran into the woods when he saw a gun. He told police he heard a shot and ran back out to his car to find Cadogan dead in the passenger seat.

Johnson told police he drove the car to Shot Town Road and dumped the body into the woods. He said he came to police at his father's urging.

Witney said they questioned Johnson several times during the past two weeks.

POLICE SURVEILLANCE LEADS TO TWO ARRESTS

Two Prince George's County men were arrested New Year's day on drug charges following a police surveillance in Meade Village.

Garrett Thomas, 31, of the 800 block Talbott Avenue in Laurel, and Melvin Avon Thomas, 29, of the 100 block 5th Street in Bowie, were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Police said officers were watching an apartment complex on Circle Road at about 9:30 p.m. when a light blue Toyota Tercel pulled up in front of one building. Two men got out of the car and went into the building.

About 15 minutes later, the two men came out and drove away. Police attempted to stop the car after it went through a stop sign. The car pulled into a residential driveway and both men ran away.

Police chased the men through a parking lot, a wooded area and an apartment complex before catching Melvin Thomas, the suspected driver of the car.

Police said they found a plastic bag containing 37 packages of rock cocaine and $454. The passenger in the Toyota, Garrett Thomas wasarrested later. Police said he had a pager and $185.

MAN HOLDS UP GLEN BURNIE BANK

A man with a gun robbed the Mercantile Bank and Trust in the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway Thursday afternoon, getting away with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police said the man walked into the Glen Burnie bank at 1:51 p.m. and handed a teller a note saying he had a gun and demanded money.

Police said the man kept repeating "I have a gun," and when the teller got nervous, the suspect said, "I'll do it."

Police are looking for a black male, 5-foot-9, medium build, with a dark complexion. He was last seen running east on 6th Street.

GOOD SAMARITAN INJURED AND ROBBED

A 35-year-old Gambrills man was injured and robbed early Friday morning on Route 170 near Old Donaldson Avenue.

Police said Jeffery Lemmons of the 400 block Burns Crossing Road stopped to help what he thought was a disabled motorist. One of the men on the side of the road hit him in the face and took his money.

Police are looking for a black male, about 35 years old, wearing a blue Navy-like coat, with short hair and a mustache. The second suspect was described as a white male, mid 20s, wearing a dark stocking cap, brown jacket and dark pants.

The suspects drove away in a dark Toyota coupe with Virginia license plates.

COURTHOUSE CLOSED AFTER BOMB THREAT

Glen Burnie District Court, in the 7500 block Ritchie Highway, was evacuated Thursday afternoon after an unidentified woman called and said she had planted two bombs in the building.

A State Police K-9 unit responded and searched the building, but turned up nothing. The building was closed from noon, when the bomb threat was received, until shortly after 2 p.m., when normal courthouse activity resumed.